There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
I remain eternally indebted to the woman for whom my father worked for many years. Not only because that second income was what put me through college but also because of a gift she sent me when I was perhaps twelve years old.
She had been to England that summer and sent me a copy of J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Hobbit", and a one volume copy of "The Lord of The Rings". It was by the way, one of the first single paperback volumes of the trilogy. After the movies this became very common, but back in the "70,' certainly less though. My hat is off to someone who had the fore site to engage me with such a combination of good,complex writing and adventure.
O course I was to discover I wasn't alone in my love for the book. It turns out many of my friends had read, or were reading the trilogy the same time I had. Being young boys our discussion would sometimes turn to our favorite characters, or who we thought which character we most resembled. For those of you who are enmeshed in social media, this is what we did before we had Facebook surveys to tell us which character we are like.
Oddly enough everyone thought they resembled one of the heroes of the book. Which is not such a bad thing. Children and young teens should have heroes who display the noblest of our virtues to look up to, or emulate. We all had our favorites, noble kings, faithful elves, grouchy but stalwart dwarfs. We all had favorites, but I don't know how honest we were.
If I were to take an honest examination of my character I can see that my nature is not always so ennobled. The character I most resemble is Gollum. If you are not familiar with the character he is in many ways the most tragic figure. He is twisted by possession and longing for one thing. It is His precious: The One Ring. It is his precious and he never wants to let go of it, or be parted from it. In fact it is in the parting that he finishes his long slippery slope into madness. Now you know why I never take those Facebook quizzes. Who wants that displayed to the world?
I don't hold onto a ring, but I admit I have an obsession I hold onto: My time. My time is precious to me. I hold onto it jealously. And as I look around I know I am not alone. Most of us hold our time with both hands don't we? We treat it as a precious commodity: "Don't waste My Time". We loath interruptions. We agonize when our day, or even an hour goes off course. From the moment the alarm goes off until we go to bed we live scheduled, orderly lives, that always go off schedule and are hardly ever orderly. Which makes us hold onto time even tighter. We stroke the clock and mutter, "My Precious" under our breadth.
Thankfully God has provided a away out of the madness. Look again at the Scripture at the top of the blog. If you can get the old song by the Byrds out of your head for a second look at what it's saying. There is a time for everything. This is God's way of inviting us to loosen our grip on our schedules and our time. To see it less of a commodity to be hoarded and more of a blessing to be shared. It's his reminder that time is like a wet bar of soap. The tighter you hold onto it the easier it slips away. Instead it to be held gently enjoyed for what it is and appreciated for what it is, not for what it is not.
It's God's reminder that time is ever changing but He is not. If we are to hold not something tightly it should be the one who is everlasting not something that always eludes our grasp. It's only when we do this that we can truly appreciate each moment that God gives us. It allows us to see life without the blinders. It helps us to see the interruption may not be a curse but a blessing. That child or grandchild trying to climb into your lap when you have work to do: Is he/she a moment of blessing or an interruption? That choice is yours. But we should choose wisely.
I'm not completely there yet. I still hate interruptions to 'my' schedule. I'm still guilty of seeing my time as Precious. But as I walk with God I'm seeing it as precious for a different reason. It's precious because it's God gift He shares with me. It's precious because it's a chance to be a blessing. Its curious because come what may God has a plan and purpose even for the interruptions of life. Let us all learn to loosen our grip on time that we might more firmly grasp the hand of a precious Savior.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
Monday, September 30, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Out Of The Comfort Zone
"Now The LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred
and your father's house into a land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1)
When I was in Jr. High and early High School, I can remember reading stories of missionaries like Jim Elliott. Stories of people going into the remotest places on earth to share the gospel with people who had never even heard of Jesus. In my mind's eye I could see them, machete in one hand, Bible in the other, narrowly escaping death time and time again to bring the Word of God to the world. It was souped up Christianized version of Indiana Jones. It all seemed terribly exciting and, I thought, the life for me.
Eventually reality set in. I realized that Jim Elliott died as a missionary, killed by the very people he was trying to help. But also my temperament is simply not the make up of a good missionary. I admit it, I am okay with comfort. My vacation dreams have never consisted of me in a tent on a remote mountain. Ever. I enjoy the technology I have at my finger tips. I said enjoy, not addicted, no matter what other people say. I can quit at any time. I also like my routine and have never suffered well those people or situations that disturb my routine. None of which exactly makes for a good missionary, at least in the traditional sense.
So how did I find myself slogging through the mud in Mexico on a mission trip this past weekend? In part because I was asked. Two dear friends of mine were heading up a medical mission and wanted to know if I would be willing to go along as the spiritual director of the team. It would involve working at the clinic in some capacity, being with the people who come, and leading worship along with whatever other pastoral duties I could come up with. And because they are dear friends I said yes. Twice.
So this past weekend I found myself in a strange place sleeping on a foam mattress, with little access to communication at certain times of the day. The community had been affected by recent storms along the coasts. Certainly nowhere to the degree of other communities. But it had rained for almost three weeks, turning the local dirt roads into a muddy nightmare of travel.
It's an important mission. We helped many people and were even able to do a few house calls in the process. We helped some people who hadn't had any health care in their area for years. They were incredibly gracious. But for all of that, and the good it did, I will admit there were times when I wondered, why me? I'm not trained for anything medical. I don't have that "I love roughing it" mindset. So why has God called me twice to do such mission trips?
Precisely because it is a situation in which I am not comfortable. I believe it is when God calls us out of the familiar, out of our comfort zone that we experience His presence the most. Our greatest moments of growth spiritually come when we are willing to step out from the familiar into the unknown and trust that God will catch us. It's only when we reach those moments where we are both positive God has called us, and sure he has called the wrong person but go anyway that we most experience His grace in life.
This is a recurrent theme in the Old Testament. God calls ordinary people out of their comfort zones and then does extraordinary things to them and through them. God calls Abram out of Ur. Is Abram a godly man before this? Certainly that's why God calls him. But if you read his story there is no doubt we see an incredible change in Abram when he steps away form his homeland.
We see this when God calls Ruth to go with her mother in law to Israel. She is a strange woman in a strange land. Yet God causes great things to happen because she does. Amos, Jeremiah, even Moses are all positive God has the wrong person when He calls them. Yet they trust Him. And when they go out of their comfort zone God does a mighty work.
At some point in your life, God is going to call you out of your comfort zone. He is going to ask you to step out of the familiar and into the unknown. It could be an invitation to go on a mission trip. It could be a move to a new area. It might be a change in your life circumstances, a new job or relationship. Will it be a new ministry? Might it simply be a calling on your heart to let go of some old sins and ways of looking at the world because God has something new for you?
Who knows? I certainly don't. Live long enough and it's probably all of the above. God never tires of calling us out into unfamiliar territory. He calls. You answer. And soon that new territory becomes familiar territory, and so God calls you again a little further out or in a new direction where all you have to rely on is Him. Why? Because He loves us. He sees gifts and graces in you that you can't see because your eyesight is clouded by the familiar. He wants you to be in a place where you must trust and rely on God because He is all you have.
I don't know where God will call you, only that He will. I hope you answer and go. If we stay where we are we will always be who we are and not who God has designed us to be. So get ready. God will call you. Will you listen? Will you go?
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
When I was in Jr. High and early High School, I can remember reading stories of missionaries like Jim Elliott. Stories of people going into the remotest places on earth to share the gospel with people who had never even heard of Jesus. In my mind's eye I could see them, machete in one hand, Bible in the other, narrowly escaping death time and time again to bring the Word of God to the world. It was souped up Christianized version of Indiana Jones. It all seemed terribly exciting and, I thought, the life for me.
Eventually reality set in. I realized that Jim Elliott died as a missionary, killed by the very people he was trying to help. But also my temperament is simply not the make up of a good missionary. I admit it, I am okay with comfort. My vacation dreams have never consisted of me in a tent on a remote mountain. Ever. I enjoy the technology I have at my finger tips. I said enjoy, not addicted, no matter what other people say. I can quit at any time. I also like my routine and have never suffered well those people or situations that disturb my routine. None of which exactly makes for a good missionary, at least in the traditional sense.
So how did I find myself slogging through the mud in Mexico on a mission trip this past weekend? In part because I was asked. Two dear friends of mine were heading up a medical mission and wanted to know if I would be willing to go along as the spiritual director of the team. It would involve working at the clinic in some capacity, being with the people who come, and leading worship along with whatever other pastoral duties I could come up with. And because they are dear friends I said yes. Twice.
So this past weekend I found myself in a strange place sleeping on a foam mattress, with little access to communication at certain times of the day. The community had been affected by recent storms along the coasts. Certainly nowhere to the degree of other communities. But it had rained for almost three weeks, turning the local dirt roads into a muddy nightmare of travel.
It's an important mission. We helped many people and were even able to do a few house calls in the process. We helped some people who hadn't had any health care in their area for years. They were incredibly gracious. But for all of that, and the good it did, I will admit there were times when I wondered, why me? I'm not trained for anything medical. I don't have that "I love roughing it" mindset. So why has God called me twice to do such mission trips?
Precisely because it is a situation in which I am not comfortable. I believe it is when God calls us out of the familiar, out of our comfort zone that we experience His presence the most. Our greatest moments of growth spiritually come when we are willing to step out from the familiar into the unknown and trust that God will catch us. It's only when we reach those moments where we are both positive God has called us, and sure he has called the wrong person but go anyway that we most experience His grace in life.
This is a recurrent theme in the Old Testament. God calls ordinary people out of their comfort zones and then does extraordinary things to them and through them. God calls Abram out of Ur. Is Abram a godly man before this? Certainly that's why God calls him. But if you read his story there is no doubt we see an incredible change in Abram when he steps away form his homeland.
We see this when God calls Ruth to go with her mother in law to Israel. She is a strange woman in a strange land. Yet God causes great things to happen because she does. Amos, Jeremiah, even Moses are all positive God has the wrong person when He calls them. Yet they trust Him. And when they go out of their comfort zone God does a mighty work.
At some point in your life, God is going to call you out of your comfort zone. He is going to ask you to step out of the familiar and into the unknown. It could be an invitation to go on a mission trip. It could be a move to a new area. It might be a change in your life circumstances, a new job or relationship. Will it be a new ministry? Might it simply be a calling on your heart to let go of some old sins and ways of looking at the world because God has something new for you?
Who knows? I certainly don't. Live long enough and it's probably all of the above. God never tires of calling us out into unfamiliar territory. He calls. You answer. And soon that new territory becomes familiar territory, and so God calls you again a little further out or in a new direction where all you have to rely on is Him. Why? Because He loves us. He sees gifts and graces in you that you can't see because your eyesight is clouded by the familiar. He wants you to be in a place where you must trust and rely on God because He is all you have.
I don't know where God will call you, only that He will. I hope you answer and go. If we stay where we are we will always be who we are and not who God has designed us to be. So get ready. God will call you. Will you listen? Will you go?
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
Monday, September 16, 2013
Sorry For The Inconvenience
"Finally Brothers and Sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord
Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please
God (as you, in fact, are doing), you should do so more and more." (1
Thessalonians 4:1)
I admit I'm a creature of habit. I like it that way. I begin every morning, at least Monday through Friday, the same way. I get up, take the dog out, get breakfast, and read the newspaper while I'm also watching "Mike and Mike" on one of the 47 ESPN channels I have. Yes, my friends, if you are called to the United Methodist Ministry such an exciting life could be yours as well.
I like to watch Mike and Mike for several reasons. They are hardly ever on together so you can make a game out of trying to guess who will be on instead. ESPN's programming will often bump it around, so you have to go looking for it. It's not always on the same channel. My favorite is when they decide to bump it the second hour. I don't always notice right away and it takes me a while to realize the two chaps talking European football are Hans and Gerber, not Mike and Mike.
But the main reason I like it is that they always have lively debate and several guests who make some pretty thoughtful commentary. One of the big topics this morning was what happened in Orlando yesterday during the broadcast of the Jacksonville Jaguar's game. During the game, the Orlando station scrolled across the bottom of the screen that they were contractually obligated to show this game. "We apologize," they scrolled, "for any inconvenience."
Orlando is a big secondary market for Jacksonville and so they have to show the away games. Apparently there was a huge backlash of folks in Orlando not wanting to see their "local" and awful team play when they could have been watching Eli and Payton have at it in a storied sibling rivalry.
We apologize for any inconvenience. It sounds like an old Johnny Carson routine. The Jaguars are so bad....How bad are they? The performance of the team is so bad, even their local fans would rather see something else. They are so bad the local TV station actually apologizes for them. The team is not pleasing anyone.
We apologize for the inconvenience. I wonder how many times on a daily basis that line could scroll across my life. Look again at our Scripture at the top of the blog. Paul reminds the church in Thessaloniki that their primary duty in life is to live and please God. He commends the church for doing so but reminds them they are not done. You should do more and more. Paul urges them to live a life of passion and joy burning up for God desiring to please Him with every breath in their bodies, every prayer of their hearts, every action of their hands.
I read that as a part of my devotion this morning. That's my other routine. It was jarring to put this up against the segment on ESPN. Is my life pleasing to God. Or have I lived my life in such a way that really as God watches me it ought to show "pardon for the inconvenience. I know you would rather be watching the life of Max Lucado right now. But we are contractually obligated to show you this life."
Two things strike me. God is never inconvenienced by us. Oh, I've no doubt that I have disappointed him and at times have not pleased Him. But He never wishes He were watching somewhere else. God loves us. By His amazing and astounding grace He stays faithful to us, urging us on instead of looking for a more "popular" team. Try as we might, we cannot exhaust His grace or His faithfulness.
Secondly, He doesn't ask me to be Max Lucado, or Bill Hybels or anyone else. He simply asks me to be the person He formed me to be and live out that life with an increasing joy and heart for Him. It makes me think of another athlete, Eric Liddell, who's story is told in the movie Chariots Of Fire. He said "I know God made me for China, someday. But he also made me fast. I feel his pleasure when I run."
God is never inconvenienced by us. He is always interested in our lives. And he finds His greatest pleasure in us when we live the life he made us to live. So run your race and feel God's pleasure.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
I admit I'm a creature of habit. I like it that way. I begin every morning, at least Monday through Friday, the same way. I get up, take the dog out, get breakfast, and read the newspaper while I'm also watching "Mike and Mike" on one of the 47 ESPN channels I have. Yes, my friends, if you are called to the United Methodist Ministry such an exciting life could be yours as well.
I like to watch Mike and Mike for several reasons. They are hardly ever on together so you can make a game out of trying to guess who will be on instead. ESPN's programming will often bump it around, so you have to go looking for it. It's not always on the same channel. My favorite is when they decide to bump it the second hour. I don't always notice right away and it takes me a while to realize the two chaps talking European football are Hans and Gerber, not Mike and Mike.
But the main reason I like it is that they always have lively debate and several guests who make some pretty thoughtful commentary. One of the big topics this morning was what happened in Orlando yesterday during the broadcast of the Jacksonville Jaguar's game. During the game, the Orlando station scrolled across the bottom of the screen that they were contractually obligated to show this game. "We apologize," they scrolled, "for any inconvenience."
Orlando is a big secondary market for Jacksonville and so they have to show the away games. Apparently there was a huge backlash of folks in Orlando not wanting to see their "local" and awful team play when they could have been watching Eli and Payton have at it in a storied sibling rivalry.
We apologize for any inconvenience. It sounds like an old Johnny Carson routine. The Jaguars are so bad....How bad are they? The performance of the team is so bad, even their local fans would rather see something else. They are so bad the local TV station actually apologizes for them. The team is not pleasing anyone.
We apologize for the inconvenience. I wonder how many times on a daily basis that line could scroll across my life. Look again at our Scripture at the top of the blog. Paul reminds the church in Thessaloniki that their primary duty in life is to live and please God. He commends the church for doing so but reminds them they are not done. You should do more and more. Paul urges them to live a life of passion and joy burning up for God desiring to please Him with every breath in their bodies, every prayer of their hearts, every action of their hands.
I read that as a part of my devotion this morning. That's my other routine. It was jarring to put this up against the segment on ESPN. Is my life pleasing to God. Or have I lived my life in such a way that really as God watches me it ought to show "pardon for the inconvenience. I know you would rather be watching the life of Max Lucado right now. But we are contractually obligated to show you this life."
Two things strike me. God is never inconvenienced by us. Oh, I've no doubt that I have disappointed him and at times have not pleased Him. But He never wishes He were watching somewhere else. God loves us. By His amazing and astounding grace He stays faithful to us, urging us on instead of looking for a more "popular" team. Try as we might, we cannot exhaust His grace or His faithfulness.
Secondly, He doesn't ask me to be Max Lucado, or Bill Hybels or anyone else. He simply asks me to be the person He formed me to be and live out that life with an increasing joy and heart for Him. It makes me think of another athlete, Eric Liddell, who's story is told in the movie Chariots Of Fire. He said "I know God made me for China, someday. But he also made me fast. I feel his pleasure when I run."
God is never inconvenienced by us. He is always interested in our lives. And he finds His greatest pleasure in us when we live the life he made us to live. So run your race and feel God's pleasure.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
Monday, September 9, 2013
Messiness Is Next To Godliness
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8"
Confession time. I don't like everything about the ministry. Or at least Pastoral ministry. It took me a long time to be able to come to grips with that statement. I was OK with not liking certain tasks. I just didn't want to admit it. But the pastoral ministry is, believe it or not, a lot like your job. There are things you enjoy and parts of it that don't thrill you. It doesn't mean you aren't suited for what you do. It just means you have certain gifts and preferences.
For instance, the 4:00 AM "emergency" phone call that really isn't an emergency. Not a big fan. Or the "nonmember" wedding where you quickly discern the families involved have no real desire for a worship service. The wedding is simply something to get through in order to get to the reception. Again not a fan.
But those are small things. Most of what I do, I love to do. Not just love it, but see it as a grand privilege. Take the past Sunday for instance. It was my grand privilege to preside over three of the five baptisms we performed at Trinity. I had a chance to meet with all of the families the day before and we talked about the power and importance of this sacred act. We spoke of the beauty of God's prevenient grace, wooing us to Him long before we are aware. And we spoke of the need to understand that we as parents, and the Body of Christ, are often the main conduits of this grace.
While all the Baptisms were special, one sticks out in particular in my mind. I held a little baby who wore a baptism gown that was over 90 years old. In fact, the little one's great grandfather wore it when he was baptized. The great grandfather was even able to attend the service. The baby could not have been more well behaved. He nestled himself in my arms and looked around in wonder at the congregation.
So I held him a bit longer than usual, and again explained the mystery were were a part of. It was indeed a holy moment. The family was beaming. The congregation was beaming. And we were in an undoubtedly holy moment. The little one looked at me, and in this holy moment, reached out grabbed my nose as hard as he could and stuck his thumb up my right nostril. So much for the holy moment. The congregation now had tears of laughter in their eyes and I had tears from almost having my nose removed from my face.
But perhaps not. Perhaps the Holiness of the moment wasn't lost after all. Perhaps it simply serves to remind all of us of what grace really is. Grace is messy. Grace is unexpected. Grace seems to come out of nowhere. Grace breaks through even our most carefully laid out plans.
We have a tendency to forget that today. Oh, we are all for God's love and grace. We are all for grace as long as we can plan for it. As long as we can have some control over it. As long as it's predictable. We cry out Maranatha (Lord come quickly). But come in an expected, unobtrusive way.
But that's not grace. It never has been, really. Grace is messy. Grace is in the blood running down the beaten and mutilated body of Jesus on the Cross. Grace is Jesus allowing a woman with an unclean flow of blood to touch Him. Grace is in the missionary wiping the feet of a leper who has gangrenous sores. It's in the person giving a hug to a homeless person who hasn't bathed in a long time. Grace is in the person willing to get involved in the life of a young woman who has been shattered by human trafficking.
Grace is even in the small messy moments of the church. It's in that Communion cup when every one has has put their fingers in it during Intinction. It's in the cups and the bulletins left behind after a worship service and the folks who lovingly clean it up. It's in the faces of a youth group fresh back from some "messy" game as they track who knows what back through the narthex on the way to the bathroom. It's even in the hand of the child who suddenly grabs your nose during a baptism.
Yes, grace is more than a bit inconvenient. It's sloppy and messy. But I'm glad it is. You see there have been plenty of times I've been messy in my life. Messy with sin. Messy with pride and self-centered heart. A bit untidy with feeling sorry for myself. But I have a savior who doesn't mind getting messy. He got down in the mess of my life and pulled me out. In fact, He took my mess and gave me His cleanliness.
You might be like that. Life's a bit, well, messy right now. Don't forget you have a savior who loves to get down in the mess of our lives and give us grace. Grace is messy. And yet, at the same time, its grand.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
Confession time. I don't like everything about the ministry. Or at least Pastoral ministry. It took me a long time to be able to come to grips with that statement. I was OK with not liking certain tasks. I just didn't want to admit it. But the pastoral ministry is, believe it or not, a lot like your job. There are things you enjoy and parts of it that don't thrill you. It doesn't mean you aren't suited for what you do. It just means you have certain gifts and preferences.
For instance, the 4:00 AM "emergency" phone call that really isn't an emergency. Not a big fan. Or the "nonmember" wedding where you quickly discern the families involved have no real desire for a worship service. The wedding is simply something to get through in order to get to the reception. Again not a fan.
But those are small things. Most of what I do, I love to do. Not just love it, but see it as a grand privilege. Take the past Sunday for instance. It was my grand privilege to preside over three of the five baptisms we performed at Trinity. I had a chance to meet with all of the families the day before and we talked about the power and importance of this sacred act. We spoke of the beauty of God's prevenient grace, wooing us to Him long before we are aware. And we spoke of the need to understand that we as parents, and the Body of Christ, are often the main conduits of this grace.
While all the Baptisms were special, one sticks out in particular in my mind. I held a little baby who wore a baptism gown that was over 90 years old. In fact, the little one's great grandfather wore it when he was baptized. The great grandfather was even able to attend the service. The baby could not have been more well behaved. He nestled himself in my arms and looked around in wonder at the congregation.
So I held him a bit longer than usual, and again explained the mystery were were a part of. It was indeed a holy moment. The family was beaming. The congregation was beaming. And we were in an undoubtedly holy moment. The little one looked at me, and in this holy moment, reached out grabbed my nose as hard as he could and stuck his thumb up my right nostril. So much for the holy moment. The congregation now had tears of laughter in their eyes and I had tears from almost having my nose removed from my face.
But perhaps not. Perhaps the Holiness of the moment wasn't lost after all. Perhaps it simply serves to remind all of us of what grace really is. Grace is messy. Grace is unexpected. Grace seems to come out of nowhere. Grace breaks through even our most carefully laid out plans.
We have a tendency to forget that today. Oh, we are all for God's love and grace. We are all for grace as long as we can plan for it. As long as we can have some control over it. As long as it's predictable. We cry out Maranatha (Lord come quickly). But come in an expected, unobtrusive way.
But that's not grace. It never has been, really. Grace is messy. Grace is in the blood running down the beaten and mutilated body of Jesus on the Cross. Grace is Jesus allowing a woman with an unclean flow of blood to touch Him. Grace is in the missionary wiping the feet of a leper who has gangrenous sores. It's in the person giving a hug to a homeless person who hasn't bathed in a long time. Grace is in the person willing to get involved in the life of a young woman who has been shattered by human trafficking.
Grace is even in the small messy moments of the church. It's in that Communion cup when every one has has put their fingers in it during Intinction. It's in the cups and the bulletins left behind after a worship service and the folks who lovingly clean it up. It's in the faces of a youth group fresh back from some "messy" game as they track who knows what back through the narthex on the way to the bathroom. It's even in the hand of the child who suddenly grabs your nose during a baptism.
Yes, grace is more than a bit inconvenient. It's sloppy and messy. But I'm glad it is. You see there have been plenty of times I've been messy in my life. Messy with sin. Messy with pride and self-centered heart. A bit untidy with feeling sorry for myself. But I have a savior who doesn't mind getting messy. He got down in the mess of my life and pulled me out. In fact, He took my mess and gave me His cleanliness.
You might be like that. Life's a bit, well, messy right now. Don't forget you have a savior who loves to get down in the mess of our lives and give us grace. Grace is messy. And yet, at the same time, its grand.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Things Arent' As bad As They Seem...Or Are They?
"And I said, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of Hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)
The other day I watched the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap" for the umpteenth time. (Umpeenth by the way is the number one uses when we either don't wish to take the time to actually count, or are too embarrassed to admit how many times we have done something.)
If you aren't familiar with "This Is Spinal Tap," it is the supposed documentary of the downfall of a Rock group Spinal Tap. It's also a multi-layered commentary on the music industry and abiding friendship. Most of all, it's funny. No matter how many times (umpteen) I have seen it I always catch something new.
This time I was struck by something their manager/promoter says during an interview. He is asked: "The last time Spinal Tap toured, they filled 15,000 seat auditoriums. Now they are playing to crowds of 1,500. Is their popularity waning?" The manager replies, "Oh, no, not at all. Their audience is simply getting more selective." In other words, things aren't as bad as they seem.
If you watch the film you will see this becomes the manager's mantra or business strategy. Everything is fine. Nothing is as bad as it seems. Failed promotions, bad record covers, awful bookings. It's all good. It's going to be fine. The reality is that it's not fine. Everything isn't okay. And, until Spinal Tap realizes this, things probably aren't going to get any better.
Halfway through the film the manager gets fired and goes to work for the United Methodist Church. Not really, I just want to make sure you are paying attention. He doesn't, but he could have. Over the years, I've heard this same type of spin in our own denomination. Things really aren't as bad as they seem. We don't have fewer members we have more selective members.
What's interesting is how angrily we react to anything that challenges our version of reality. The growing UM church? Sell out, workaholic pastor, mega church wannabes. They don't do real ministry. They are in a growing area. And the list goes on and on. We would rather make excuses than admit things are bad, because, once we do that, we know we must change.
But let's not be too quick to smirk and point fingers at our denomination. We've all been guilty of this haven't we? Isn't the inability to see that things are as bad as they seem one of the major stumbling blocks to our spiritual growth? My sins really aren't that bad are they? I mean, you can see how anybody in my situation would have done the same thing. Well, yes, I did some things I'm not proud of. But if you compare them with some other people, I come out smelling like a rose, don't I? Hey, I did 10 bad things this week. But I did 12 good things. So I'm actually up 2 right?
And when we see someone truly living out a Christian life, displaying holiness, we sound suspiciously like those in the denomination denying reality. "They are probably hiding something. No one likes someone who goes around acting holier than thou. I bet they have skeletons in their closet. No one really lives this stuff out 24/7.
You see, it's easier to keep our heads in the sand than to see people who have changed. Because, if they have changed, then perhaps we can as well.
Admitting things are as bad as they seem is the first step in being transformed by the Holy Spirit. Look at our Scripture. Isaiah has a vision of God in the temple. It's no watered down vision of God. Its a vision taking in as much of God's holiness and majesty as a human being can bear. What is Isaiah's response? I am unclean. Isaiah sees his sinful nature for what it is. Sinful. Bad. Outside of God's plans. No excuses. No comparison with anyone else. No keeping score of good and bad. He simply admits the unclean nature of his spirit.
It's not about feeling guilty or brow beating oneself. If you continue to read the chapter, an amazing thing happens. God burns away the stain of sin. He makes Isaiah clean. It's not easy and it's a painful process. But it's also a reality.
I wonder how many of us approach God's throne as Isaiah does? I know I often come asking for forgiveness but with plenty of excuses as to why I did something, or some fairly empty promises how I won't mess up the next time. But how many of us simply come to God and say my sin is as bad as it seems. In the light of your holiness maybe even worse? I come with no excuses. I simply admit who I am in your presence. Would the one who is Holy from eternity to eternity not touch our lips with His Holy fire and make us clean? Would we not all be changed? Admitting that at times things are as bad as they seem is often the first step to things getting better.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
The other day I watched the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap" for the umpteenth time. (Umpeenth by the way is the number one uses when we either don't wish to take the time to actually count, or are too embarrassed to admit how many times we have done something.)
If you aren't familiar with "This Is Spinal Tap," it is the supposed documentary of the downfall of a Rock group Spinal Tap. It's also a multi-layered commentary on the music industry and abiding friendship. Most of all, it's funny. No matter how many times (umpteen) I have seen it I always catch something new.
This time I was struck by something their manager/promoter says during an interview. He is asked: "The last time Spinal Tap toured, they filled 15,000 seat auditoriums. Now they are playing to crowds of 1,500. Is their popularity waning?" The manager replies, "Oh, no, not at all. Their audience is simply getting more selective." In other words, things aren't as bad as they seem.
If you watch the film you will see this becomes the manager's mantra or business strategy. Everything is fine. Nothing is as bad as it seems. Failed promotions, bad record covers, awful bookings. It's all good. It's going to be fine. The reality is that it's not fine. Everything isn't okay. And, until Spinal Tap realizes this, things probably aren't going to get any better.
Halfway through the film the manager gets fired and goes to work for the United Methodist Church. Not really, I just want to make sure you are paying attention. He doesn't, but he could have. Over the years, I've heard this same type of spin in our own denomination. Things really aren't as bad as they seem. We don't have fewer members we have more selective members.
What's interesting is how angrily we react to anything that challenges our version of reality. The growing UM church? Sell out, workaholic pastor, mega church wannabes. They don't do real ministry. They are in a growing area. And the list goes on and on. We would rather make excuses than admit things are bad, because, once we do that, we know we must change.
But let's not be too quick to smirk and point fingers at our denomination. We've all been guilty of this haven't we? Isn't the inability to see that things are as bad as they seem one of the major stumbling blocks to our spiritual growth? My sins really aren't that bad are they? I mean, you can see how anybody in my situation would have done the same thing. Well, yes, I did some things I'm not proud of. But if you compare them with some other people, I come out smelling like a rose, don't I? Hey, I did 10 bad things this week. But I did 12 good things. So I'm actually up 2 right?
And when we see someone truly living out a Christian life, displaying holiness, we sound suspiciously like those in the denomination denying reality. "They are probably hiding something. No one likes someone who goes around acting holier than thou. I bet they have skeletons in their closet. No one really lives this stuff out 24/7.
You see, it's easier to keep our heads in the sand than to see people who have changed. Because, if they have changed, then perhaps we can as well.
Admitting things are as bad as they seem is the first step in being transformed by the Holy Spirit. Look at our Scripture. Isaiah has a vision of God in the temple. It's no watered down vision of God. Its a vision taking in as much of God's holiness and majesty as a human being can bear. What is Isaiah's response? I am unclean. Isaiah sees his sinful nature for what it is. Sinful. Bad. Outside of God's plans. No excuses. No comparison with anyone else. No keeping score of good and bad. He simply admits the unclean nature of his spirit.
It's not about feeling guilty or brow beating oneself. If you continue to read the chapter, an amazing thing happens. God burns away the stain of sin. He makes Isaiah clean. It's not easy and it's a painful process. But it's also a reality.
I wonder how many of us approach God's throne as Isaiah does? I know I often come asking for forgiveness but with plenty of excuses as to why I did something, or some fairly empty promises how I won't mess up the next time. But how many of us simply come to God and say my sin is as bad as it seems. In the light of your holiness maybe even worse? I come with no excuses. I simply admit who I am in your presence. Would the one who is Holy from eternity to eternity not touch our lips with His Holy fire and make us clean? Would we not all be changed? Admitting that at times things are as bad as they seem is often the first step to things getting better.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)